Maria-Andreea Gamulescu1, Horst Helbig. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, University Eye Clinic, Regensburg, Germany. gamulescu@eye-regensburg.de
Abstract
PURPOSE: In patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy can lead to stabilization and even improvement of visual acuity in the treated eye, as proven by multiple studies. Some case reports, however, also suspect an effect in the untreated fellow eye. METHODS: Prospective case series of 26 patients treated with intravitreal ranibizumab injections in both eyes because of bilateral exudative AMD. In all patients, central retinal thickness (CRT) was measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in both eyes: before first treatment of the first eye, as well as 2 weeks later, just before first treatment of the second eye. RESULTS: While mean CRT was significantly reduced in the treated first eye 2 weeks after intravitreal injection from 369.46 microm (+ or - 170.88) to 275.04 microm (+ or - 113.04), P = 0.0005, mean CRT in the untreated fellow eye increased significantly: from 349.08 microm (+ or - 118.93) to 403.46 microm (+ or - 173.14) 2 weeks later, P = 0.017. CONCLUSIONS: A therapeutic effect of ranibizumab in the untreated fellow eye could not be demonstrated. Overall, mean CRT in the untreated eye increased as would be expected for the normal course of this disease.
PURPOSE: In patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy can lead to stabilization and even improvement of visual acuity in the treated eye, as proven by multiple studies. Some case reports, however, also suspect an effect in the untreated fellow eye. METHODS: Prospective case series of 26 patients treated with intravitreal ranibizumab injections in both eyes because of bilateral exudative AMD. In all patients, central retinal thickness (CRT) was measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in both eyes: before first treatment of the first eye, as well as 2 weeks later, just before first treatment of the second eye. RESULTS: While mean CRT was significantly reduced in the treated first eye 2 weeks after intravitreal injection from 369.46 microm (+ or - 170.88) to 275.04 microm (+ or - 113.04), P = 0.0005, mean CRT in the untreated fellow eye increased significantly: from 349.08 microm (+ or - 118.93) to 403.46 microm (+ or - 173.14) 2 weeks later, P = 0.017. CONCLUSIONS: A therapeutic effect of ranibizumab in the untreated fellow eye could not be demonstrated. Overall, mean CRT in the untreated eye increased as would be expected for the normal course of this disease.